A Moroccan businesswoman faces three years in jail after a court convicted her of sexually exploiting a fellow 23-year-old countrywoman and forcing her into prostitution after beating her with a shisha stick.

A businesswoman faces three years in jail after a court convicted her of sexually exploiting another woman and forcing her into prostitution after beating her with a shisha stick.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted 26-year-old Moroccan, N.L., of sexually exploiting her 23-year-old countrywoman, G.S., and coercing her into prostitution. She was also convicted of working in prostitution herself.

Presiding Judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi said the accused, who denied the charges, will be deported after serving her jail term.

"I am innocent. I did not force G.S. into prostitution," N.L. said. "I did not work in prostitution myself."

Wedding planner

N.L.'s lawyer argued her client was framed and that she ran a wedding-planning business.

Court records said the accused told G.S. she would work for the business. Instead, she locked her in a flat for 15 days, beat her with a shisha stick and forced her to have sex with men.

The 23-year-old victim testified that she agreed to pay Dh20,000 in visa fees to N.L.'s mother in Morocco.

"When I arrived, she kept me in a flat," G.S. said.

"She took my passport claiming that my sponsor required it. I waited 15 days and I did not start work.

"She coerced me to have sex with strange men for money which she kept for herself. I couldn't escape from the flat because it was always locked. One day I convinced her to let me go buy a telephone credit charge. Immediately I went to Al Qusais Police Station."